Founded: 1907
Location: 610 Cpyress Ave., Los Angeles
San Fernando Region: Deanery 6

Alongside the Southern Pacific freight yards that bordered the Los Angeles River, what was mainly a "working man's" parish --- erected primarily by and for Polish residents who worked for the railroad and lived in the area --- was established in 1907.

Father J.W. Organisiak of the Society of the Divine Saviour had received permission from Bishop Thomas Conaty to open the mission for Polish-speaking Catholics. (Early records do not clearly explain the choice of the parish name, but as a member of that priestly order it can be assumed that devotion to the Divine Saviour strongly influenced the title.) Land was purchased near the car barns for $13,000, and the first church building was completed in September, 1907.

The population of Los Angeles then was about 400,000 with Divine Saviour the 13th Catholic parish established in the city. St. Pius X, the "Pope of the Eucharist," was in the fourth year of his papacy and already noted for his encouragement of frequent Communion, especially for children. Reaching out to children would be one of guideposts later for the parish.

In Los Angeles, Bishop Thomas J. Conaty was appointed to the see of Monterey and Los Angeles in 1903 and the following year acquired The Tidings newspaper as the official diocesan organ. During his 12 years serving the growing diocese, the bishop was known as an exceptional orator, preservationist and educator.

By 1914 the small Polish mission was largely English speaking as Father William Power was appointed the first pastor of the now formally-erected Divine Saviour parish. Among the pastors who followed, Father F.A. Wekenman is credited with the erection of a new school (1922) and church (1924). During that era German and Irish names began outnumbering the Polish, followed by the Italians.

Msgr. Anthony Jacobs of the Netherlands served from 1928 to 1930, then headed Santa Clara in Oxnard for 30 years. He was followed by Msgr. Thomas Morris of County Longford, Ireland; Msgr. Maurice Dee from County Tipperary (who later headed Immaculate Conception in Monrovia for 20 years); and Msgr. Maurice Ryan, also from Tipperary, who served the parish until the start of World War II (then for 30 years headed St. Rose of Lima in Maywood).

Two short-term pastors followed, Msgr. Joseph Bauer and Father Thomas Noonan. When Father David Barry of County Cork became pastor in 1959 he initiated plans for a new church building before his death in 1963 at age 55. The old church of 1924 was bulldozed in 1964. In 1966, during the pastorate of Father Charles Dignam, the distinctive new building was dedicated. Serving for four years each after the new church was built were Msgr. Kenneth O'Brien of Massachusetts and Msgr. Leland Boyer of Sacramento.

In 1975 Father Thomas Boudreau, a native of Long Beach, assumed his first pastorate at Divine Saviour where he continued in ministry for 30 years. "When I first came the parish was in transition," he said in a recent interview, "and the Mexican population was in the majority. I was very happy during my years there."

In his early years there were approximately 30 First Communicants; by the time he retired there were 900 with some 5,000 attending Sunday Masses. There previously was only one Mass in Spanish; now there are four. Between 1975 and 1985, the area witnessed 45 homicides a year for persons under 30; by 2005, only 18.

Why the steady rise in community outreach and Mass attendance? Father Boudreau credits a unique system he initiated in the parish, an idea he got from Father John Steinbock (now bishop of Fresno). The system included a computer program that he developed over 20 years that tracked home visits throughout the area, and signing up children for catechism classes that resulted in increased Mass attendance and, of course, many more baptisms.

"For me," said Father Boudreau, "Christmas was every Sunday. I said two Masses for the children and then had class with them. I kept it simple. But without outreach, you die."

The computer program brought great results, although it involved time and expertise but without charging for catechism classes attendance increased and profound changes resulted in parish life. "I knew I had something," the retired pastor noted, "and I would like to leave this behind me. I hate to be gone and forgotten."

The new administrator at Divine Saviour is Father Marco Ortiz from Mexico, who the veteran pastor calls "a prince" and is continuing the unique program that brings "instant gratification."